What happened
During a landing maneuver, the pilot of a Skyranger Swift 912S, registration G-UPHI, attempted to land to the left of the runway centerline. This decision was made in an effort to avoid ground that appeared rutted on the right side of the runway. However, as the aircraft touched down, the combination of wet and sloping ground caused the aircraft to veer off the runway surface.
Despite the pilot's efforts to use corrective control inputs to maintain the aircraft's path, the veer continued. The aircraft eventually collided with a boundary wall and came to a stop in a nearby ditch. No injuries were reported following the incident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the conditions of the airfield surface and the pilot's decision-making process. The investigation established that the ground to the right of the centerline was rutted, prompting the pilot to seek a safer landing path to the left. It was also noted that the pilot believed a more comprehensive briefing from the airfield owner regarding the surface conditions might have resulted in a different landing position, specifically one that would have kept the aircraft on level ground.